HUBBALLI: Upset with the state government’s decision to hike the market cess from o.35% to 1% at the Agriculture Produce Market Committees (APMCs), the Karnataka Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) has called for the closure of all the APMCs on Monday.
Former KCCI president Shankranna Munavalli on Friday said that, in order to impress on the state government the disgruntlement among the farmers, and the discontent prevalent among the traders owing to the increase in the APMC market cess, the bandh would be observed on Monday. “The FKCCI has convened a meeting in Bengaluru, which will also be attended by officebearers of KCCI, and a decision on the next course of action will be taken. Why did the government take a decision with such urgency without even consulting members of traders’ associations?” Munavalli added.
Member of Vijayapura traders’ union Parasmal Bothra condemned the state government’s decision, dubbing the hike in the market cess a ‘black spot’.
Shekhanna Gaddikeri, a trader in Gadag, questioned the need for the hike itself. He pointed out that such changes ought to be take into account practical considerations.
“Imposing a cess on trade at APMCs, while all transactions outside are exempted from any tax. When Prime Minister Narendra Modi says ‘One Nation, One Tax’, how can such double standards be allowed?” Gaddikeri asked.
Chairman of FKCCI’s APMC sub-committee PD Shirur said that the government could not ignore the gravity of the issue when onion and tomato markets in Bengaluru cease to function. “Traders at the Yeshwantpur APMC have agreed to down the shutters,” Shirur said.
Vikas Soppin, Shivashankar Hampiholi, Lingangoudar, Basavaraj Eklaspur and others supported the stance adopted by KCCI and FKCCI.